Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 March 2014
72. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the situation regarding graduates of the higher diploma in education who have yet to secure their 100 consecutive days within the three year time-frame in order to complete the qualification in view of the fact that many are struggling to secure employment and in some cases even acknowledgments of their applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11088/14]
View answerI am aware that some newly qualified teachers may experience difficulty in accessing teaching hours to complete their probation for registration purposes because they do not yet hold a teaching position in a school. Measures have been taken by the Department and the Teaching Council to alleviate difficulties faced by teachers in this regard.
One measure relates to the minimum service requirement for probation purposes to secure registration with the Teaching Council as a primary teacher being decreased from 170 days to 100 days in the 2011-12 school year. In addition, if an applicant is unable to complete the requirements of a registration condition within the specified period, he or she may apply to the Council for an extension to that period.
In addition, under circular 46/2011 the Department allowed schools and ETBs to participate in the National Internship Scheme, JobBridge, administered by the Department of Social Protection. JobBridge can provide valuable teaching experience to teachers and assist them in securing employment subsequently. A JobBridge internship may allow a newly qualified teacher to undergo the probation process required to become fully registered.
If a teacher is unable to complete the probation requirements within the specified period, he or she may apply to the Council for an extension. Each application is considered on its merits taking account of the stage reached by the applicant in meeting the requirements. Teaching resources are allocated to schools on a school year basis. Unlike most other areas of the public service teaching vacancies are being filled in accordance with published Department criteria. The Government has prioritised, as best as possible, the filling of front-line posts in the Education sector within the constraints of the Employment Control Framework. For example, schools are permitted to fill teaching vacancies that arise within their approved staffing allocations. The redeployment of surplus permanent teachers is the first mechanism to fill teaching posts in schools. This is key to the ability of my Department to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. Thereafter, teaching posts are filled in the normal manner through the recruitment process at individual school level.
